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Tag Archives: Creativity

When it comes to brand building, there is more to color than meets the eye.

According to Webpagefx's article and infographic, "Psychology of Color: the meaning behind what we see", powerful psychological cues are triggered when we view different colors. Colors evoke emotions, moods and feelings. Nearly 85% of consumers name color as the primary reason that they purchase a particular product. 93% look at visual appearance when they buy a product and color improves comprehension, learning and readability. By analyzing how colors psychologically impact others, you can make branding and advertisement decisions that will allow you to reach your targeted audiences on a whole new level.

Bevil Conway, artist and neuroscientist, believes that certain hues may trigger and serve as channels to understanding the neural properties of emotion, making the science behind color a very powerful - and underdeveloped - craft.

In less than a month, the world of brands will come together for what is the biggest celebration in the industry of advertising. A place where everyone working in the field of communications - from agencies, to media specialists, to marketers - are inspired by a week of nothing but ideas. Or as Marcelo Serpa, Partner and Chief Creative Officer at AlmapBBDO once said: "Cannes is the worst enemy of indifference. It is here where we gather each year to share the only antidote we have for the indifference of consumers overloaded with information - ads, films and campaigns - creativity."

Here's a review of the campaigns that rocked the 2013 Cannes Lions:

Channel 4 - "Meet the Superhumans"

Agency: 4 Creative London | Country: UK

Awards and categories: Grand Prix in Film Craft | Gold in Film

Procter & Gamble - "Proud Sponsor of Moms"

Agency: Wieden + Kennedy, Portland | Country: USA

Awards and categories: Gold in Media | Gold in Titanium and Integrated Content

The year 2014 represents one thing for the sports world: the FIFA World Cup. Whether you like or not, it's here, and in less than a few weeks it becomes real in Brazil. How does this worldwide phenomenon affect Brazilian products? How are advertisers supposed to behave and compete with international brands in this very crowded marketplace?

The FIFA World Cup moves extraordinary - as well as dubious - sums of money that range from infrastructure to ad campaigns. "Brazil expects to receive 500,000 foreign tourists and move tens of millions of Brazilians for the host cities." (Source: Ministry of Tourism)

Within this scenario, Brazilian brands are offered a unique opportunity of competing on the same arena with other major international brands. As a country, Brazil should export a comprehensive picture of modern, developed and creative nation. An image that relies heavily on a good performance of its national products, since the brand identity created for the 2014 World Cup had proven to be a colossal failure. A poorly structured logo, foolish typography and a mascot that became a joke, all seemed a random combination of elements without any previous planning.

The branding of the 2014 World Cup consists in a random junction of elements without much planning.

Despite the not-so-great image of Brazilian marketing and branding, national products may still have a chance to change this paradigm. Here are some ideas as to how to make that happen.

1. Brazilian pride

The country's essence and fervor for the World Cup dictates a distinct set of factors within its global marketing: energy, passion and happiness, which are perhaps more important than leadership and quality. National brands should encourage patriotism by creating motivational campaigns that take advantage of their market and extensive consumer knowledge. A Brazilian-to-Brazilian approach and message within campaigns will generate an inherent marketing advantage.

2. Keeping an eye on FIFA Partners

Something that is definitely worth watching out for are the actions executed by the six major international brands involved in the World Cup - Adidas, Coca-Cola, Hyundai, Kia, Emirates, Sony and Visa - who have paid sums as large as £230 million to FIFA for a four-year partnership. These brands will bring a lot of creativity and branding quality and will be present in all matters of the tournament. These advertisers will have access to more than 50% of the world population.

3. Joining in

Brands should improve and promote the consumer experience and become a part of the worldwide event through local and spontaneous activations. Social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Youtube ...) are ideal platforms for Brazilians and foreigners to share their own experiences and interact with each other.

Brands could also integrate their efforts onto social and mobile platforms, paving the way for a more immediate and tight-knit contact with the audience.

4. Adding value

Brands must find a way to incorporate themselves in the middle of the experience between fans and the sport without being invasive. Through this connection, they should strive to add value and continue a longterm relationship with consumers, not only during 2014, but until the next World Cup in 2018.

The tournament is ready and guaranteed to the public and the consumers; now the question that remains is whether it will get a taste of Brazil's victory.

Corporate events are the perfect opportunity to really change the perception of your brand, not through traditional advertising methods - but by immersing your clients in a world that’ll really get people talking. Because more often than not, it’s not just a matter of getting attendees to show up. The best corporate events are those which manage to create a world of their own - one that’s fully immersive and makes your guests feel like they’re part of something unique.

Whether it’s to launch a new product, build upon your internal communications, or build a buzz around your business, creating a great corporate event really can be enhanced by having the right type of staff in place. We’ve seen this to be true across all sectors - from automotive, to telecoms, from utilities to banking - people are at the very heart of the event experience.

What Makes Corporate Events Different?

When putting together a corporate event, it’s essential to focus entirely on your guests. More than anything else, corporate events are an opportunity to create an experience that delights and inspires everyone in attendance - and to generate positive associations between the world, and your brand.

More often than not, they’re a closed space, for a limited number of guests - which means it’s important to make sure they’re innovative, but accommodating to your visitors’ requirements. By creating an event that delivers everything your guests expect from a corporate event, whilst managing to offer something that’s just a little bit unique, it’s possible to redefine your brand - and leave your guests wanting to engage with, and share, their experiences with a wider audience.

Why Are People Important?

No matter the scope of your event or the brand you’re trying to promote, a great staff needs to be a constant. From the team of people behind-the-scenes trying to make things happen, to the hosts and hostesses greeting and assisting your guests, it’s essential to have people who understand the importance of your brand experience. From mixologists, to presenters and cameramen, every person at your event is a representative of your brand - and they have the potential to change the perception of your brand in a powerful way.

By investing in the highest calibre of a team, it is possible to re-define your brand and revitalise your relationship with your clients, consumers and internal staff. We regularly guide our clients through briefing and training to ensure that they’re making the very most of the opportunity, because it’s easily overlooked - but absolutely fundamental in achieving the brand awareness and respect that such events are designed to generate.

Corporate events are a great opportunity to redefine your brand - and get people really talking about your business both at the event, and in the wider sphere. They can be immersive, powerful experiences for your guests - and with the right people on board, you can guarantee its success.

Matt Day works in the brand marketing team at Mashstaffing.com, were he helps companies create re-branding events. If you're looking for advice in re-branding a product, company or brand, look at some of Mash Staffing's advice articles.

In 1947, David Ogilvy, mastermind and founder of Ogilvy & Mather, set out to build one of the largest advertising networks in history. His audacity and success were only surpassed by a business acumen and ability to voice concepts that have served as inspiration and a guiding light for professionals in the field of advertising and marketing. When he spoke, we listened. And that we have done for over half a century.

Ogilvy founded his philosophy on three basic pillars: quality and diversity of the people, quality and class of the operation, and last but not least, belief in brands. From here stems that age-long conviction of the development and cultivation of the intangible aspects that make companies (and those responsible for it) unique. "Our history is the evolution of one man's thoughts, talents, and work ethic translated into a company culture, a defining business strategy, a destiny." We must make advertising that sells, but first, make advertising that builds brands.

So when it comes to ideas worth spreading, what could be better than to share them through social media? The team at Ogilvy has done a great job in creating a platform that both informs and celebrates the passion for ideas set forth by none other than its brilliant founder. For the past year, I've been fascinated with amazing entries featuring infographics, quotes, rankings and facts on the subject of business, advertising, brands, and life.